Olga Overbury

Hôpital général juif

Project abstract

There exists a growing body of scientific literature demonstrating a link between Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and cognitive impairment. Although this research has found that advanced AMD is associated with cognitive impairment, the picture for early stages of AMD is less clear. This could be due to limitations in the retinal examination tools as well as cognitive assessment tests that are not sensitive to mild cognitive impairment. This ongoing study will attempt to clarify the relationship between AMD and cognitive impairment. Since various stages of AMD are associated with anatomical changes in the retina, we will use sophisticated retinal imaging tools to investigate if certain characteristics visible in the retinas of AMD patients are associated with cognitive impairment. Participants will also undergo a test designed specifically to detect mild cognitive impairment.

These results will help to better establish which AMD patients are most at risk for developing cognitive problems and to set up preventive measures to avoid these issues. Further, this study will encourage the development of rehabilitation strategies better suited to the needs of the low vision AMD population with cognitive impairment. This study will also explore the possibility of an association between the presence of a protein called β-amyloid, which has been linked with AMD and Alzheimer's disease, in the retina and MCI using a small subgroup of participants.